Asia’s growing economic and geopolitical importance has led to increased interest in its social protection and social welfare programs. How do these diverse countries deal with aging, disability, drug and alcohol abuse, housing, income supports and welfare, health care coverage, old-age pensions, single mothers, social services, unemployment, and the working poor? Are there lessons in this experience for other parts of the world? Are there lessons Asia can learn from the experience of others? And, how can we encourage cross-national exchanges among researchers, academics, practitioners, and government officials?

In keeping with this interest, the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and the University of Maryland School of Public Policy in association with the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM) will hold a conference to explore these and other topics in Singapore, January 7 (starting at dinner) through January 9

The conference is designed to attract a worldwide audience. It will highlight scholarly—but policy-oriented—papers on these and similar topics. At the conference, the papers will be presented in topic-oriented panels with both Asian and non-Asian discussants. The conference will close with a panel on “Implications Beyond Asia.” Papers are solicited on all aspects of social protection in Asia. The analysis should cover specific types of programs, programs within particular Asian countries or across them, or be comparative in nature. Cross-national and comparative papers are encouraged. All proposals should be submitted online through the APPAM website with a deadline of 15 July 2008.

Program co-chairs:

Prof. M. Ramesh
Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy
Social Policy in East and South East Asia: Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan (2004)
Welfare Capitalism in Southeast Asia: Social Security, Health and Education Policies (2000)

Prof. Douglas J. Besharov
School of Public Policy, University of Maryland
Immediate Past President, Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management
Chair, APPAM Committee on International Activity
Co-editor, Comparative policy analysis series, Oxford University Press

Program committee: is composed of twelve social policy experts from Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, and the United States. For detailed information about the members on the committee, please click here.

Schedule:

Proposal submission is now closed. For instructions on submitting a late proposal, please send an email inquiry by selecting, "Singapore Conference-Program" on our contact form.